Over 76 Tonnes of Illegal Timber Found Buried in Savannakhet

Savannnakhet authorities are trying to determine who is behind a huge pile of illegal timber found buried in the ground at a timber processing factory in Napasad, Napangthong district. An initial investigation suggested that the timber belonged to a Vietnamese national who is reportedly on a homeland trip.

Local authorities said that the factory was owned by Ms Meody, 46, a villager of Thongkhankham, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane Capital.

Ms Meody said that the timber didn’t belong to her but was hidden at her timber factory by a Vietnamese business person. Relevant authorities in the province are investigating the case to bring the perpetrator to justice.

On Oct 16, police searched the premises of the factory and found more than 6,900 pieces of sawn timber buried in the ground and hidden in the workers’ dormitory of the factory after being tipped off by a local resident. The timber weighed more than 76 tonnes and included rosewood (114 pieces), padong (124 pieces).